Santorini: Private Tour by Custom Route & Mercedes Van

Design your Santorini day your way in comfort and style

You’ll shape your own Santorini adventure with a private driver who knows every shortcut and story. Expect easy hotel pickup, cool comfort in a Mercedes van, spontaneous stops for figs or secret views, plus lunch reservations handled for you so you can just enjoy every moment as it comes.

What’s included

Your day includes private transportation in an air-conditioned Mercedes mini van with WiFi onboard, all fees and taxes covered, plus hotel pickup and drop-off anywhere on Santorini. Your local guide helps arrange lunch reservations so you skip lines and focus on enjoying each stop along your chosen route.

Traveler reviews

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Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Flexible private Santorini tour planning

• Plan your private Santorini tour
• Choose your preferred itinerary
• Receive expert local recommendations
• Make restaurant and winery reservations
• Arrange pick-up and drop-off service
• Optionally book a private photographer
• Enjoy a safe, sanitized vehicle

The Experience

We slid into the back of a shiny Mercedes van just after breakfast, still brushing crumbs from our fingers. Our driver—Nikos—grinned and asked what we wanted to see first. I blurted out “Pyrgos,” because someone at the bakery had told us it was less crowded than Oia (which, honestly, I was a bit nervous about). The van’s seats were cool against my legs and the air smelled faintly like sunscreen and coffee. Nikos nodded, adjusted his sunglasses, and off we went—no fixed route, just our half-formed ideas and his suggestions filling in the blanks.

We wound up in Pyrgos before most tourists had finished their second coffee. The village felt sleepy; old men were already arguing over backgammon outside a blue-doored café. Nikos pointed out a crumbling stone church where he said his cousin got married last spring (“big party—too much wine!”). He seemed to know everyone. I tried to say “thank you” in Greek when an old lady handed me a fig from her basket—she laughed at my accent but patted my arm anyway. That fig was sticky-sweet; I can still taste it now.

After that, we just let the day unfold. We skipped Oia’s crowds for a quiet cliffside spot Nikos knew (he called it “his secret,” though I’m sure every driver has one). There was this weird silence except for some goats clattering past below us—and suddenly the whole caldera opened up in front of us. I snapped a hundred photos but none caught that blue-on-blue light properly. Lunch happened somewhere near Megalochori—a taverna Nikos called ahead to reserve so we didn’t have to wait. The tomatoes tasted like sunshine; I probably ate too much bread but whatever.

I liked not having to worry about buses or maps or whether we’d miss something important on Santorini. We could stop anywhere—one time just because I spotted a cat sunbathing on a ruined wall—and there was always WiFi if we wanted to check something (or post those photos right away). At some point I realized how rare it is to feel both totally relaxed and free when traveling—maybe that’s why this private tour stuck with me more than most.

Top questions

How flexible is the itinerary on this Santorini private tour?

You can fully customize your route and timing based on your preferences with help from your local driver-guide.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, pickup and drop-off are included anywhere in Santorini.

What kind of vehicle is used for the tour?

The tour uses an air-conditioned Mercedes Benz mini van.

Are infants or children allowed?

Yes, infants and small children are welcome; prams or strollers and specialized infant seats are available.

Can lunch be arranged during the tour?

Your guide can make restaurant reservations for you as part of the experience.

Is WiFi available during the tour?

Yes, WiFi is available onboard the vehicle throughout your day trip.

Are there any COVID-19 safety measures?

The vehicles are disinfected daily; masks and gloves are provided if needed.